Anglican reverend offers to marry couple turned away from Presbyterian church for same sex marriage support

Reverend Chris Keast has offered to marry a Ballarat couple who were turned away from another church for supporting same sex marriage. Picture: Lachlan Bence

Reverend Chris Keast from Sebastopol’s Holy Trinity Church has extended an olive branch to a Ballarat couple who had their wedding cancelled for supporting same sex marriage by offering to help them tie the knot.

Welcome: Reverend Chris Keast has offered to marry a Ballarat couple who were turned away from another church after the bride-to-be voiced her support for same sex marriage on Facebook. Picture: Lachlan Bence

Ebenezer St John's Presbyterian church minister Steven North was due to marry the couple in November but refused to conduct the service after the bride-to-be expressed support for same sex marriage on Facebook.

The decision has since received nationwide attention, with even the prime minister weighing in. A supporter of same sex marriage himself, Mr Keast said while all clergy had the right to choose which marriage services they conducted, it was not fair to discriminate against people for exercising their conscience.

“To go on someone’s Facebook page and see an opinion expressed and to therefore cut them off, I can’t see how we can make that decision when we’re being faithful to the gospel,” Mr Keast said. “We need to make it clear that we are welcoming everyone because that is what Jesus teaches.”